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Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport, a vocal advocate for Israel, asserted on Monday that his career in Hollywood is facing significant headwinds due to his unwavering pro-Israel stance.
Career Ramifications of Pro-Israel Stance
Despite reportedly experiencing setbacks in securing acting roles as a consequence of his pro-Israel advocacy, Rapaport conveyed in an interview with i24 News that he harbors “not the slightest bit of regret.”
Threats and Professional Challenges
When questioned about whether his outspoken support for Israel has subjected him to threats, Rapaport acknowledged that threats are not a new phenomenon, but he highlighted a more recent concern impacting his livelihood.
“I feel like I’ve always gotten threats—whether it was stuff about politics, I’ve always gotten threats on social media, those don’t concern me. I’ve had comedy shows protested, that doesn’t concern me. There’s been… how do I say it, there’s been… some issues in terms of securing acting jobs,” Rapaport stated.
Rapaport indicated that despite these recent professional challenges stemming from his advocacy, he believes he “had no alternative” but to express his views.
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Unwavering Support for Israel
“However, I don’t have the slightest bit of regret. I don’t. There was no choice. ‘Well, if you do this, this is going to happen’ or ‘If you do this, this won’t happen.’ Being supportive of Jews, being supportive of Israel, being supportive of our people, was not a choice. It is very natural and organic to me,” he elaborated.
Erosion of Respect in Show Business
Rapaport further disclosed that the ongoing political tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict have led him to lose respect for numerous individuals within the entertainment industry.
“There’s so many people that I have lost respect for and there’s so many people that present themselves as empathetic. There’s so many people that present as sympathetic, as worldly, as compassionate… They’re completely full of s—,” he remarked.
Impact of Hostage Poster Removal
Rapaport’s vocal support for Israel and the Jewish community intensified following the October 7 attacks. He cited the removal of posters depicting hostages in New York City as particularly impactful, galvanizing him to speak out more forcefully.
“The thing that I see the most, that resonated with me the most, is the ripping down of the posters. And I know that doesn’t hurt anybody, but it hurts my soul,” Rapaport expressed, emphasizing the tearing down of posters for the Bibas family as particularly “shocking.”
Tragic Fate of the Bibas Family
Shiri Bibas and her young children, Kfir, aged 10 months, and Ariel, aged four years, were taken captive by Hamas during the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Israeli authorities subsequently confirmed the tragic deaths of Shiri Bibas and her children while held in captivity by the Palestinian militant group.